June 25, 2025

  • Target is testing a factory-direct shipping model similar to Temu and SHEIN, aiming to offer more low-cost goods and boost sales amid ongoing demand challenges. The initiative focuses on non-food items (via Bloomberg).
  • CVS faces multiple lawsuits from Louisiana for misusing customer data to send political texts and using its market power to raise drug prices and hurt independent pharmacies. The state wants penalties and refunds, but CVS denies any wrongdoing (via AP News).
  • McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme are ending their U.S. partnership by July, citing “unsustainable” costs tied to limited rollout and low demand (via New York Post).
  • FedEx beat earnings and revenue expectations for Q4 2025 and announced plans to cut an additional $1 billion in costs next fiscal year after meeting its $4 billion savings target (via CNBC).
  • Tesla’s car sales in Europe fell nearly 28% in May — its fifth straight monthly drop — as the company struggles with lasting brand damage tied to Elon Musk’s political ties (via New York Post).
  • ASOS is banning shoppers who make too many returns, sparking backlash from loyal customers who say they rely on ordering multiple sizes due to inconsistent fits (via BBC).
  • Microsoft is planning major Xbox layoffs next week as part of wider company cuts, linked to restructuring and slowing growth, while prepping for the next Xbox generation (via The Verge).
  • Amazon was ranked the worst UK grocery retailer for supplier relations for the second year in a row, despite some improvement. The results come as regulators investigate Amazon over potential violations related to delayed supplier payments (via Reuters).
  • Anthropic did not violate copyright law by using published books to train its chatbot, Claude, a federal judge ruled, but the company must face trial over allegations it downloaded pirated copies. The decision is a major win for AI firms while leaving open questions about how training data is obtained (via The Washington Post).
  • Hermès is raising the bar for luxury brand engagement with a free, sold-out immersive experience in NYC that gamifies its heritage and craftsmanship. The “Mystery at the Grooms” installation emphasizes emotion over transactions (via Forbes).